West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1887-07-29
HARPER's FERRY LETTER.
HARPER's FERRY, July 20.

Mr.. EDITOR.--Ihe great suit De-
tween Slavery Il Co, and the old mill
firm has been decided by q refusal
from Judge Jackson of an injunc-
ton asked against the former. The
latter, of course, have the option OF
suing for any trespass they may con-
ceive Is committed on them by the
occupancy by the former of the dis
puted territory. The works will se
prosecuted with renewed vigor, and
now that our people have assurance
of employment and that the long,
expected manufactures will beestab-
lished, it would be very improper for
us to treat of the probable results OF
any future trial respecting the own
ership of "the debatable ground, F"
and we can only pray that God will
defend the right.
On Friday last the annual rail
road picnic and Jenny Smith tenn
perance excursion came off at Island
Park. 1t was intended to be q DRY
affair, and we suppose that the high
est compliment we can pay it is to
say that it fully reached the pro-
posed standard of aridity. The eX-
cursionists were certainly very re-
spectacle in appearance, and their
behavior was unexceptionable. On
this occasion we were recipients
of marked honor at the hands of
Mayor Chambers, who decorated us
with the awe inspiring badge OF a
protector of the public mOrals-a
nickel plate with the legend 'Har-
per's Ferry Police" Our special
duty was to hunt up and disperse 4
reported gang of gamblers who were
said TO be operating among the deep
and thickly-wooded ravines of the
Virginia shore of the Potomac, and
nobly did we execute the high trust
reposed in us by venerable friend.
With badge on breast, shilelah in
hand, and the fire of battle in our
eve. we proceeded to the scene of
our perilous duty. We soon encoun.
tered two or three small boys play
inc the very disreputablc and demon
alizing game of marbles, and filled
with righteous indignation and for
titled with the insignia of civic au-
thority, we seized the smallest OF
the urchins and shook him till his
teeth clattered, and in q paroXysm
of terror he promised to mend his
ways and lead better life. a little
farther on we encountered a gigan-
tic, siX-foot monte gambler with a
muscular Development that would
not discredit John l.. Sullivan, and
withal most sinister expression OF
countenance. He was seated in the
shade of rock and he held his
cards ready for Il victim. We sur
yeyed him carefully, and we did not
fail to notice that his fist was about
the size Of our family tea kettle, in
dicating that he was pronounced
plebeian, and that his jowl was us
broad and red as q pulpit cushion,
denoting the preponderance of the
animal IN his composition. He in
turn noticed us, and we lancied from
an amused leer in his eye and 4 curl
of his lip that he was not properly
impressed with our physical make
up and the dignity conferred on us
by the badge. Determined to rebuke
his insolent demeanor, as well as his
habits of life, we passed him in silent
contempt, and we know that we cut
him to the heart by so doing. That
he profoundly admired our discreet
and dignified course we are conf
dent from certain chuckles of salts
faction that reached our ears rs we
moved away from him. Having no
doubt that we had effected thor
ough reformation of the little boy,
and that we had crushed and cowed
the spirit of the monte man, we re
turned home and, like the true pat
riot, made out our bill against the
corporation of Harpers Ferry.
On Saturday last we were the
guests of L. 5. Grant Post No. ., G.
a. r. of this place, who met by ar
rangement Antietam Post No. II of
the same organization, belonging to
Sharpsburg, Maryland, to decorate
the graves of a few soldiers who
rest in the lonely cemetery at Sam
piers. Manor about five miles from
Harper's Ferry. Year after year
this ceremony is performed at points
situated in popular districts, but
never before was this solitary spot
taken into account in pursuance of
this affecting and laudable custom.
Eight gallant men-seven of the
Union army and one Confederate
sleep in this hithert) neglected spot.
The names of the Federals were
John p. johnson, John j. Farling,
G. r Farling anti Josephus Grimm,
Of the lst Maryland Home Brigade
Mathew Van Dusen, Of the 9th n.
Y. Heavy Artillery; James Dobson,
9TH Maryland, and Henry +. Haines,
of Russell's cavalry. There is no
record of the name of the COnfeder-
ate, but it is known that he fell gal
lantly fighting in Early's raid of
1864. The affair was in charge OF
c. H. Briggs and George W. Ora
ham,past commanders; George Rey-